Kalikho Pul had many more meaningful years to contribute: Jitendra Singh

Updated: Aug 09, 2016 14:26 IST

New Delhi, Aug. 9 (ANI): Expressing grief over sudden demise of former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul, Union Minister of State for Development of the North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh on Tuesday described the former as a very energetic leader who had number of years ahead to contribute for the welfare of people.

"We have received this news with a tremendous degree of grief and shock. He was a young budding politician who was with us last week. He was full of enthusiasm and energy. I think he had many more meaningful years to contribute," Singh told ANI.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sudhanshu Mittal said, "It is a monumental tragedy and has come as a huge shock. It is a great loss not only to Arunachal Pradesh but to the entire nation. He was a great man and nationalist and completely committed to Arunachal Pradesh."

"He was anguished that he was not getting justice. He was very humiliated and distressed," he added.

Pul was found dead at Chief Minister's residence in Itanagar this morning.

Pul was the chief minister for around four months after the state was placed under President's Rule following a series of dramatic developments, which witnessed the Congress government being voted out by party rebels along with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In February, Pul was sworn-in as the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister with the support of 18 dissident Congress legislators, two independents and 11 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs who gave him outside support in the 60-member assembly.

Nabam Tuki, who was earlier the chief minister, was dismissed following days of turmoil, after 21 of the 47 Congress MLAs - including Pul -rebelled against him.

Arunachal Pradesh was placed under President's Rule on January 26.

Last month, the Supreme Court ordered the restoration of the earlier Congress government in Arunachal.

In a separate judgment, the apex court had also set aside the Assembly Deputy Speaker's order quashing the Speaker's decision to disqualify 14 rebel Congress MLAs on December 15, 2015. (ANI)